Decorative light system

• US 7,458,698 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2006
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Demarest, Scott W., Abbondanzio, Matthew, Harrity, Kevin, Conway, Simon M., Carlson, David R., Johnson, Mark E., Dir, Ronald R., Faterioun, Kamran, Horton, Edwin T., Heathcock, Sarah E.
• Primary Examiner(s): O Shea; Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cranson; James W
• Application Number:
  US11/424,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20070291475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 362/101, 362/158, 362/183, 362/244, 362/246, 362/267, 362/555, 362/565, 362/558
• US Class Current: 362/101
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 5/005 comprising inserts
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/005 using light guides light guides specially adapted for lighting devices G02B6/0001
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/02 changing colors F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/001 being candle-shaped with varying lighting effect of simulating flames F21S10/04; string of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0004 Personal or domestic articles
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/002 by shaping at least a portion of the light guide, e.g. with collimating, focussing or diverging surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0081 Mechanical or electrical aspects of the light guide and light source in the lighting device peculiar to the adaptation to planar light guides, e.g. concerning packaging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/12 by detecting audible sound
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 : by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 : via wireless transmission

Abstract

A portable light device is capable of generating light that is substantially uniformly distributed at its surface. The light device includes a housing having at least a translucent portion formed of a translucent material A first light source is disposed within the housing and is adapted to generate light. A first optical structure is positioned to direct at least a portion of the light from the first light source toward the housing translucent portion, and a second optical structure is positioned between the first light source and the housing translucent portion, the second optical structure being adapted to diffuse at least a portion of the light for uniform distribution across the housing translucent portion.

Claims

1. A portable light device comprising:

a housing having at least a translucent portion formed of a translucent material;

a first light source disposed within the housing and adapted to generate light, the first light source being disposed in axial alignment with a light pipe that circumscribes the first light source;

the light pipe positioned to direct at least a portion of the light from the first light source toward the housing translucent portion and to diffuse at least a portion of the light for uniform distribution across the housing translucent portion.

2. The portable light device of claim 1, further comprising a substrate For supporting the first light source.

3. The portable light device of claim 2, wherein the light pipe further comprises a diffuser dome positioned between the first light source and the housing translucent portion, the first light source being disposed between the dome and the substrate.

4. The portable light device of claim 3, further comprising a reflector positioned to direct the light toward the housing translucent portion.

5. The portable light device of claim 4, in which the reflector comprises a reflective coating on the substrate.

6. The portable light device of claim 5, in which the substrate comprises a printed circuit board.

7. The portable light device of claim 3, further comprising a diffuser layer extending across the housing translucent portion.

8. The portable light device of claim 1, in which the light source comprises a cluster of light emitting diodes.

9. The portable light device of claim 1, father comprising a Rechargeable battery disposed within the housing.

10. The portable light device of claim 1, in which the housing is sealed to form a buoyant portable light device.

11. A portable light device comprising:

a housing including first and second housing sections, each of the first and second housing sections including at least a translucent portion formed of a translucent material;

a printed circuit board disposed within the housing and positioned between the translucent portions of the first and second housing sections;

a first light source operably coupled to the printed circuit board and positioned between the printed circuit board and the first housing section translucent portion, the first light source adapted to generate a first light;

a second light source operably coupled to the printed circuit board and positioned between the printed circuit board and the second housing section translucent portion, the second light source adapted to generate a second light;

a first optical structure positioned between first light source and the first housing section translucent portion and adapted to direct at least a portion of the first light toward the first housing section translucent portion;

a second optical structure positioned between the second light source and the second housing section translucent portion and adapted to direct at least a portion of the second light toward the second housing section translucent portion;

a first diffuser layer positioned adjacent the first housing section translucent portion, the first diffuser layer being formed of a semi-opaque material; and

a second diffuser layer positioned adjacent the second housing section translucent portion, the second diffuser layer being formed of a semi-opaque material.

12. The portable light device of claim 11, in which the entire first and second housing sections are formed of the translucent material

13. The portable light device of claim 12, further comprising a third optical structure extending about a periphery of the printed circuit board and adapted to diffuse at least portions of the first and second lights, thereby to conceal a peripheral edge of the printed circuit board.

14. The portable light device of claim 11, in which the printed circuit board includes a reflective layer to direct at least a portion of the first light from the first light source toward the housing first section translucent portion.

15. The portable light device of claim 11, in which the housing is sealed to form a buoyant portable light device.

16. A portable light device comprising;

a housing including upper and lower housing sections, the housing having at least a translucent portion formed of a translucent material;

an upper diffuser layer extending across an interior surface of the upper housing section;

a reflector ling having an outer shoulder adapted to receive a peripheral edge of the upper diffuser layer and an inner shoulder;

a printed circuit board sized for insertion into the diffuser ring inner shoulder;

a light source operably coupled to the printed circuit board;

a lower diffuser layer enclosing a lower surface of the printed circuit board and having a peripheral edge engaging a lower surface of the diffuser ring; and

a resilient gasket disposed within the housing.

17. The portable light device of claim 16 further comprising a second light source operably coupled to the printed circuit board, wherein the first light source is positioned to direct light toward the upper housing section and the second light source is positioned to direct light toward the lower housing section.

18. The portable light device of claim 17, further comprising a light pipe enclosing the second light source, the light pipe including an upper edge engaging the lower surface of the printed circuit board.

19. The portable light device of claim 18, in which the resilient gasket is disposed between the lower diffuser layer and the light pipe.

20. The portable light device of claim 16, further comprising a rechargeable battery operably coupled to the printed circuit board and a charge receiving coil operably coupled to the rechargeable battery, wherein the receiving coil engages the lower diffuser layer and the resilient gasket is disposed between the receiving coil and the light pipe.